Romans 5:3-5, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Psalm 62:5-6, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”
Did you know that we can flourish in the times of waiting? We can grow through the challenges and trials. We can receive His grace in the unknown. We can place our hope in God without knowing the result of a test or outcome of difficult circumstances.
Sometimes, there is the temptation to hope for “when things get better” or “when I feel like it” or even “when I’m not so busy.”
We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Life here on earth is short compared to eternity. Our mission and commission is not just to be “paused” when things feel rocky or complicated or even heavy.
My desire and intent is to use this platform to stir up our faith, encourage us, to spur one another on, to help us reset our gaze on Jesus. May we see a flourishing in our lives not to just make things easier or for us to feel good, but may we see and walk in the fullness of Christ that is available to us as co-heirs, for His glory!
Walk it out (Challenge for today): A few things to ponder, meditate on, and bring to the Lord in prayer as we walk this out:
- Do I fully trust that I can flourish in Christ, in the midst of waiting?
- Am I considering it a pure joy (through Christ’s strength), as I face trials of many kinds?
- Am I receiving and accepting His grace in the unknown?
- What area of my life have I settled with just wanting to get over and past, without allowing the Holy Spirit to make me more like Jesus as I am walking in the middle of it?
- Who can I encourage today, in the midst of waiting? (if there is a name of someone that comes to your heart, go for it, encourage that person in Christ’s hope and love today)
- Am I standing on the truth that my hope is from God and God alone? In what places or circumstances does my heart need to be encouraged with this truth?
He is worthy! May we see and be encouraged by a strengthening to our hearts as we abide in Him. Cheering you on as we walk fully surrendered to Him.
Walking worthy of the calling alongside you and for His glory,
-B
